NFL Week Eight Rankings: Top 35 RB

While there really is no question as to who the best running back is in the league, there are some surprising players with positive matchups who jump up the rankings.  Let’s take a look at how things currently stack up:

1. Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings - at Green Bay
2. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jacksonville Jaguars - at Tennessee
3. LaDainian Tomlinson - San Diego Chargers - vs. Oakland
4. Kevin Smith - Detroit Lions - vs. St. Louis
5. Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans - vs. Jacksonville
6. Steven Jackson - St. Louis Rams - at Detroit
7. Matt Forte - Chicago Bears - vs. Cleveland
8. Michael Turner - Atlanta Falcons - at New Orleans
9. Steve Slaton - Houston Texans - at Buffalo
10. Ronnie Brown - Miami Dolphins - at New York Jets
11. Ray Rice - Baltimore Ravens - vs. Denver
12. Brian Westbrook - Philadelphia Eagles - vs. New York Giants
13. Marshawn Lynch - Buffalo Bills - vs. Houston
14. Thomas Jones - New York Jets - vs. Miami
15. Frank Gore - San Francisco 49ers - at Indianapolis
16. DeAngelo Williams - Carolina Panthers - at Arizona
17. Ryan Grant - Green Bay Packers - vs. Minnesota
18. Tim Hightower - Arizona Cardinals - vs. Carolina
19. Brandon Jacobs - New York Giants - at Philadelphia
20. Pierre Thomas - New Orleans Saints - vs. Atlanta
21. Joseph Addai - Indianapolis Colts - vs. San Francisco
22. Marion Barber - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Seattle
23. Knowshon Moreno - Denver Broncos - at Baltimore
24. Ricky Williams - Miami Dolphins - at New York Jets
25. Darren Sproles - San Diego Chargers - vs. Oakland
26. Julius Jones - Seattle Seahawks - at Dallas
27. Fred Jackson - Buffalo Bills - vs. Houston
28. Jamal Lewis - Cleveland Browns - at Chicago
29. Michael Bush - Oakland Raiders - at San Diego
30. Ahmad Bradshaw - New York Giants - at Philadelphia
31. Donald Brown - Indianapolis Colts - vs. San Francisco
32. Beanie Wells - Arizona Cardinals - vs. Carolina
33. Mike Bell - New Orleans Saints - vs. Atlanta
34. Tashard Choice - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Seattle
35. Shonn Greene - New York Jets - vs. Miami

Thoughts

• LaDainian Tomlinson has shown that old jump in his step of late and a favorable match-up should allow him to produce like the player of old.  While he hasn’t produced like fantasy owners had hoped, for one week he is one of the best options available.
• Chris Johnson has been among the best running backs in the game, part of which stems from the Titans inability to pass the football at times this season. He has a tougher matchup against the Jaguars, but I’d look for him to continue to chew up the yards and hopefully find the end zone at least once.
• The Arizona Cardinals are one of the best running defenses in the league, which forces DeAngelo Williams down the rankings for the upcoming week.
• Pierre Thomas has a favorable matchup, but a glut in the backfield doesn’t allow him to be ranked too highly.  With Mike Bell and Reggie Bush likely to share in the touches, he’ll like have a good game, but not a great one.
• The Jets once-vaunted defense has taken a huge hit with the loss of nose tackle Kris Jenkins.  Look for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams to take advantage of that sudden void.
• While Darren Sproles may not be the best starting option considering that he will share carries with LT2, chances are the Chargers beat the Raiders in a rout.  That should lead to plenty of carries for Sproles, who is a solid FLEX option in all formats.
• Was Sunday night a coming-out party for Beanie Wells?  It’s not like he had an overly impressive performance (and still showed fumble troubles), but he saw some carries at least.  For now, I’m still holding him down in the rankings, but if indications come during the week that he is going to be the main back, he’s going to quickly rise, with Hightower dropping down.
• If Leon Washington is out for this week (and early reports are that his season is over), Shonn Greene has the potential to make a huge impact.  He should it on Sunday, rushing for over 100 yards and scoring 2 TDs.

What are your thoughts?  Who was left off the list?  Who should be higher?  Who should be lower?

Other Week Eight Rankings:

• Quarterbacks
• Wide Receivers

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